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JANICE JEAN RITTER

Janice Jean Sickels entered into this life, along with her twin brother, Jack, on June 5, 1945, in Denver, CO. She was welcomed by her parents, Roy Elvis and Edna Elsie (Mosier) Sickels, and older brothers, Carroll, Robert and Bill.
The family returned to Iowa and Janice graduated from Mount Ayr High School. Following graduation, Janice moved with her parents to Venice Beach, CA. She met and married James Ritter and to this marriage, two children were born: James and Kimberly.
Janice lived in Oklahoma where she began a career in bookkeeping. She returned to live in Mount Ayr before making Creston her home for most of her adult life. While in Creston, she worked for Dr. Hicks before a long and rewarding career with Matura. She retired as Chief Financial Officer after 30 years of service. She has made Des Moines her home for the last two years.
Janice was a caring and loving mother. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was especially fond of her pet dogs.
Over the years, Janice traveled frequently for her job and spent many miles with her best friend and coworker, June West. Oh, the adventures they had. She loved watching her nieces play softball and tried never to miss a game. She taught most of her grandchildren how to drive. She was always so patient. She also loved to crochet and over the past few years spent much of her time making lap blankets for everyone. One of her greatest joys every year was camping at the Iowa State Fair, and she continued this tradition for 35 years. She loved supporting everyone in their activities and sent everyone a card in the mail for their birthday, each year, without fail. Family was her pride and purpose.
Janice passed away on March 15, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and his wife, Carroll and Shirlee Sickels.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children, James and wife, Suzanne Ritter, of Jacksonville, NC and Kimberly and husband, J.R. Tarter, of Des Moines, IA; 15 grandchildren and many great grandchildren; brothers, Bob and wife, Kay Sickels, Bill and wife, Deb Ayres-Sickels, all of Mount Ayr and twin Jack and wife, Reta Sickels, of Des Moines, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and her beloved pet dog, Tippi.
A memorial fund has been established in her name to be decided.
Services were at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2023, at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA.
Officiating was Pastor Bill Armstrong.
Songs were “Peace in the Valley”, “When God Made You My Mother”. “When I Get Where I’m Going”, “Amazing Grace” and “The Garden”.
Casketbearers were Jim Ritter, J.R. Tarter, James Tarter, Jesse Tarter, Mike Sickels and Jerry Sickels.
The burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, IA.

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